i,  . * • 

TWO  SERMONS 

la  wi  - 

PREACHED  IN 


WESTMINSTER  ABBEY 


AND  THE 


TEMPORARY  CATHEDRAL  OF  HONOLULU, 

BY  THE  RIGHT  REVEREND  FATHER  IN  GOD 

THOMAS,  LORD  BISHOP 


HONOLULU. 


HONOLULU  : 

PRINTED  AT  THE  POLYNESIAN  OFFICE. 

1863. 


. 


The  following  Sermons  may  be  read,  not  without  some  interest. 
One  contains  the  author’s  last  words  to  his  fellow  Christians  in  the 
land  he  has  left  behind  him,  a survey  of  the  difficulties  to  be  antici- 
pated in  his  new  field  of  work,  his  encouragements  and  hopes.  The 
other,  the  opening  of  his  message  to  the  people  of  these  islands. 
But  a short  time  has  passed  since  the  arrival  of  the  English  Mission 
on  their  shores  ; yet,  perhaps,  it  has  been  long  enough  to  show,  that 
the  principles  of  the  Church,  as  stated  in  the  second  of  these  Ser- 
mons, have  been  carried  out  in  practice,  not  without  yielding  already 
6ome  blessed  results. 


t T.  N.  Honolulu. 


THE  WAITING  ISLES” 


A 

S E R M 0 N 


PREACHED  AT  THE  FAREWELL  SERVICE 


OF  THE 

MISSION  TO  THE  SANDWICH  ISLANDS, 

IN  WESTMINSTER  ABBEY, 

JULY  “23,  1862. 


BY  THE  RIGHT  REV. 

THE  BISHOP  OF  HONOLULU, 


HONOLULU  : 

PRINTED  AT  THE  POLYNESIAN  OFFICE. 
1863. 


/ 


* 


A 


SERMON, 

&c.,  &c. 


Isaiah  xlii.  4. 

“The  isles  shall  wait  for  His  law.” 

By  that  “ Law”  for  which  in  the  vision  of  the  prophet  the  isles  were 
to  wait  must  be  understood  the  revelation  of  love  and  mercy  set  forth 
to  the  world  in  the  incarnation,  sufferings,  death,  and  exaltation  of 
the  "Divine  Redeemer,  carried  on  in  its  progress  towards  completion, 
and  rendered  effectual  to  the  individual  soul,  by  the  Holy  Spirit  in 
the  Church.  It  implies  at  once  the  inward  spiritual  agency  described 
by  our  Lord  as  a “kingdom  within  us,”  and  what  must  ever  be  its 
outward  expression  and  embodiment, — the  kingdom  of  Christ  visible 
here  on  earth,  His  Mystical  Body,  the  blessed  company  of  all  faithful 
people,  His  Holy  Catholic  Church. 

This  is  that  new  dispensation  for  which  the  Apostle  Paul  declared 
to  the  Romans  “ the  whole  creation  was  groaning  and  travailing  in 
pain  together.”  In  all  her  supernatural  aids,  through  all  her  sacra- 
mental gifts,  the  virtue  of  the  great  Mystery  of  the  Incarnation  is 
seen  flowing  into  humanity,  raising  what  was  before  base  and  defiled 
to  become  again  sanctified  and  fit  for  the  Master’s  use,  worthy  of 
Him  who  created  it  So  that  in  waiting  for  His  Law  the  isles,  that 
is,  the  whole  Gentile  world,  were  in  very  truth  “ waiting  for  the 
adoption,”  to  wit,  the  “ redemption  of  the  body.” 


4 


And  often  has  this  waiting  been  illustrated  in  the  history  of  the 
Church  generally,  and  of  our  own  in  particular.  The  known  readi- 
ness of  King  Ethelbert  to  hear  the  Gospel,  no  less  than  the  sight  of 
the  Saxon  boys  in  the  market-place  at  Rome,  seems  to  have  moved 
Gregory  the  Great  in  sending  Augustine  over  to  evangelize  the  king- 
dom of  Kent.  In  that  of  Northumbria,  too,  was  there  not  an  evident 
waiting  for  the  Gospel  message,  when  before  the  arrival  of  Paulinus 
the  Angles  there  rose  up  and  destroyed  their  existing  idols,  their 
high-priest  himself  taking  the  lead,  and  asserting  his  belief  that  “the 
wooden  images  hitherto  worshipped  were  no  Gods  at  all,”  for  that 
“ there  was  only  one  Supreme  Being  dwelling  in  the  heavens  ?” 

The  whole  history  of  that  far-distant  group  of  islands  with  which 
we  are  concerned  is  an  exemplification  of  the  prediction,  “ The  isles 
shall  wait  for  His  law.” 

After  their  discovery  by  Cook  in  1718  sailors  and  traders  seem  fre- 
quently to  have  touched  at  their  shores.  These  men,  chiefly  English 
or  Americans,  themselves  of  licentious  and  abandoned  habits,  coming 
in  contact  with  a highly  sensualized  people,  no  doubt  diffused  among 
them  a fearful  amount  of  vice.  At  the  same  time  such  an  intercourse 
could  not  be  carried  on  without  the  natives  growing  in  civilization 
and  enlightenment.  Two  men,  John  Young  and  Isaac  Davies,  the 
former  a Liverpool  shipwright,  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  chief  of  Ha- 
waii— one  who  had  an  intense  wish  to  raise  his  people  to  the  level  of 
those  strangers  who,  he  saw,  were  so  far  beyond  himself  in  the  pow- 
er which  superior  knowledge  always  gives.  They  took  up  their  per- 
manent abode  with  him,  and  became  his  chief  advisers.  Dissatisfac- 
tion ere  long  sprung  up  in  the  mind  of  Kamchamcha, — for  that  was 
the  name  of  the  chieftain, — with  the  then  existing  religious  system, 
and  when  Vancouver,  after  repeated  visits  to  the  islands  during  sev- 
eral years,  finally  took  leave  of  them  in  1794,  lie  bogged  the  captain 
to  procure  teachers  from  England  to  instruct  his  people  in  the  faith 
of  Christ.  That  unhappily  was  not  a missionary  age.  It  was  a time 
of  unreality  and  spiritual  deadness  in  the  Church  of  England  : “ the 
love  of  many  had  waxed  cold  and  it  is  not  therefore  to  be  wonder- 
ed at,  though  sadly  to  be  regretted,  that  such  an  opportunity  was 
lost.  Had  it  been  seized,  how  different  from  the  actual  one  might 
have  been  the  religious  history  of  the  various  achipelagocs  of  the 
Pacific  ! Instead  of  owing  whatever  of  Christianity  they  do  possess 
to  communions  we  believe,  to  say  the  least,  far  less  likely  than  our 


5 


own  to  deal  successfully  with  the  native  character,  they  might  have 
been  among  the  most  glorious  trophies  of  our  Church’s  conquests, 
and  from  this  group  as  a centre  might  have  penetrated  into  many  a 
dark  corner  of  that  ocean — and  even  among  the  Indians  of  Vancouv- 
er’s Island  and  British  Columbia — the  rays  of  the  blessed  Gospel  of 
the  Son  of  God  ! The  request  was  renewed  again  when  another 
English  captain  visited  the  islands  in  the  years  1804 — 1806*.  lie 
describes  the  state  of  civilization  which  even  then  this  old  chief  and 
his  people  were  fast  attaining,  and  the  openings  presented  for  the 
introduction  of  Christianity  among  them.  That  blessed  gift  was  not 
to  be  obtained,  however,  from  this  country.  After  the  death  of  Ka- 
mehameha,  still  in  a state  of  heathenism  and  unbaptized,  w'e  find  his 
successor  Rihoriho  issued  an  edict  abolishing  idolatry  and  the  old 
religion.  This  met  with  some  opposition  ; a battle  was  fought,  but 
victory  proved  on  the  side  of  the  reforming  party.  And  it  was  when 
the  way  had  been  thus  remarkably  prepared  that  some  Congrega- 
V tionalist  Missionaries  visited  them  from  the  United  States  of  Ameri-  * 
ca.  They  were  not  permitted  to  land  till  the  king  had  assured  him- 
self by  consultation  with  Mr.  Young  that  they  would  speak  of  the 
same  God  and  Saviour  as  the  English  missionaries,  whom  they  had 
been  in  vain  expecting  for  the  quarter  of  a century,  which  had  then 
elapsed  since  the  petition  made  to  Vancouver.  Christianity  under 
this  form  made  rapid  progress  among  the  people.  Rihoriho  and  his 
queen  came  over  to  England  in  the  year  1823,  and,  it  will  be  remem- 
bered, died  in  London.  The  accounts  of  his  visit  mention  how  the 
royal  party  attended  the  services  of  Westminster  Abbey,  “ with 
which  they  were  much  pleased.  The  music  affected  them  a good 
deal,  and  they  were  impressed  with  veneration  for  the  placef.”  Was 
it  not  this  which  prompted  the  touching  application  he  is  stated  to 
have  made  to  King  George  the  Fourth  before  his  death,  “ I have  to 

)ask  your  Majesty  to  send  missionaries  to  teach  my  people  the  Pro- 
testant religion  as  taught  in  the  Church  of  England  ?”  He  probably 
longed  to  transplant  in  his  own  country  some  reproduction,  however 
inadequate  it  might  be,  of  the  solemn  and  beautiful  worship  he  had 
attended  within  these  venerable  walls. 

May  we  not  regard  the  series  of  applications  which  have  reached 
our  Church  from  these  islands  during  seventy  years  or  more,  as  a 

* Captain  Turnbull. 

t Hulbert’s  Royal  Biography,  Memoirs  of  the  Kings  Kamehameha  I.  and  II. 


6 


significant  commentary  on  the  prophet’s  wo«ds,  “The  isles  shall  wait 
for  Thy  law  ?” 

And  now  in  more  recent  times,  when  the  group  lias  assumed  an 
importance  it  had  not  before,  when  the  developement  of  its  produc- 
tions with  various  forms  of  trade  has  collected  in  Honolulu  a foreign 
population,  when  a system  of  national  education  has  brought  the 
Hawaiian  into  a comparatively  advanced  state  of  civilization,  when', 
too,  Christianity,  in  the  form  of  Congregationalism  or  the  Roman 
Church,  has  become  nominally  the  religion  of  the  islands,  the  cry  for 
help  has  again  reached  our  shores,  and  this  time  has  not  been  heard 
in  vain. 

The  circumstances  of  the  origin  of  the  mission  are  too  well  known 
to  need  any  detail  of  them  on  the  present  occasion.  Nor  need  I re- 
mind you  of  several  features  in  the  work  itself  not  without  interest 
to  the  Church  generally  : how  that  we  have  here  the  first  instance  of 
our  Reformed  Church  being  invited  by  an  independent  sovereign  to 
* plant  itself  in  his  dominions  ; how,  too,  by  the  formation  of  this  new 
diocese  the  only  link  is  supplietl  which  was  wanting  to  make  the  gir- 
dleof  her  influence  encircle  the  globe.  By  that  of  Melanesia  in  the 
South,  and  that  of  Honolulu  in  the  North  Pacific,  the  space  between 
Bishop  Selwyu’s  province  of  New  Zealand  and  the  diocese  of  Bishop 
Hills  in  Columbia  is  bridged  over,  and  we  may  fain  hope  that  in  many 
an  isle  of  that  vast  ocean,  but  yesterday,  perhaps,  the  home  of  sava- 
ges and  cannibals,  the  voice  of  our  Zion  shall  be  heard  on  high,  and 
there,  as  here,  she  shall  speak  in  accents  that  bring  hope,  and  trust, 
and  peace,  and  joy,  to  untold  thousands.  Happy  shall  I be  should  it 
be  my  lot  to  meet  in  some  central  isle  of  the  Pacific  my  brother,  the 
Bishop  of  Melanesia  ; happy  if  there  we  may  hold  refreshing  inter- 
course on  the  progress  of  our  great  work,  and  kneeling  down  on  the 
sea-shore  together,  offer  up  a prayer  for  God’s  blessing  on  our  efforts 
for  the  extension  of  His  kingdom. 

It  is,  however,  rather  on  the  nature  and  objects  of  the  work  to  be 
done,  than  on  its  general  aspects  I ought  now  to  dwell. 

First,  then,  as  regards  the  native  population.  We  shall  have  to 
remind  them  of  those  Divine  truths,  which  have  been  hitherto  sadly 
overlooked  in  that  system  of  Christianity  most  familiar  to  them  ; 
that  by  Ilis  Incarnation  the  Son  of  God  has  made  Himself  one  with 
them,  entered  into  all  their  sufferings,  temptations,  and  joys  ; that  in 
Him  all  manly,  all  tender  graces  combine  ; that  the  more  they  grow 


7 


into  Ilis  imag-e,  the  purer,  the  braver,  the  truer,  the  more  loving  will 
they  become  ; that  religion  was  never  designed  to  make  their  inno- 
cent pleasures  the  less*  ; that  it  is  compatible  with  the  free  indul- 
gence in  all  manly  and  athletic  exercises,  being  not  designed  to  crush 
their  natural  instincts,  nor  to  form  as  unhappily  all  admit  it  has  ; 
hitherto  done,  a sort  of  crust  around  and  external  to  their  daily  life,  i 
but  rather  to  work  with  those  instincts  and  hallow  that  daily  life  ; / 
that  the  bodies  of  baptized  Christians  are  become  temples  of  the  Holy 
Ghost,  and  that  “whoso  defileth  the  temple  of  God  him  shall  God  de- 
stroy that  He  is  honoured  by  the  consecration  of  all  that  is  beauti- 


* The  want  of  this  teaching  is  described  in  the  following  extract  from  the  “ Polyne- 
sian Gazette,”  Honolulu,  April  26th,  1802  : — 

“ Bonfire. — On  Monday  evening  last,  a number  of  the  German  residents,  in  com- 
memoration of  an  ancient  custom  in  their  “ Vaterland,”  which  they  were  prevented 
by  rain  on  the  evening  of  Easter  Sunday  last  from  performing,  lit  a large  and  splendid 
bonfire,  preceded  by  rockets  and  fireworks,  on  one  of  the  spurs  of  Punchbowl  Hill. 

“ We  would  like  to  see  several  of  the  good  ancient  continental  customs  revived  here, 
upon  great  festival  occasions.  Surely  religion  is  not  all  psalm-singing  and  gloom. 
While  the  heavy  of  heart  and  the  unforgiven  are  welcome  to  groan  and  lament  that 
over  their  souls  no  gladness  and  light  have  arisen,  yet  we  would  like  to  see  merriment 
and  rejoicing,  in  those  whose  spirits  are  so  attuned,  exhibit  themselves  especially  on 
those  great  Christian  occasions  so  eminently  calculated  to  invite  the  mind  to  joy, 
thanksgiving,  and  gladness,  such  as  Christmas  Day,  Easter  Sunday,  and  Ascension  j 
Day.  We  notice  that  this  land  is  said  to  have  been  converted  to  Christianity,  and  yet 
the  most  remarkable  events  in  the  life  of  the  Founder  of  that  faith  are  not  commemo- 
rated by  the  people ; are,  on  the  contrary,  studiously  ignored  by  their  teachers,  who 
thus  forego  one  of  the  greatest  elements  of  rendering  that  religion  national  as  well  as 
rational,  ingrafting  it  upon  the  customs  of  the  people  from  earliest  childhood,  rich  in 
many  btpght  memories  from  the  morning  of  life,  to  which  the  soul  may  look  back  and 
gather  fresh  courage  from  them,  when  rocked  by  the  tempest  and  prostrate  by  woe, 
and  which,  in  all  ages,  have  softened  the  manners  and  opened  the  heart,  by  the  .in- 
termingling of  all  classes  for  one  common  object,  and  that  a lofty  and  holy  one.  But 
independently  of  religious  festivals,  why  should  not  a properly  national  one  of  domestic 
origin  be  revived  or  instituted  ? We  would  like  to  see  some  of  the  old-world  secular 
festivals  introduced,  such  as  “ May  Day’’  for  instance,  to  be  celebrated  with  national 
sports,  jubilee,  and  bonfires  through  every  village  and  hamlet  in  the  country.  Were 
this  properly  taken  iu  hand,  it  could  not  fail  of  the  best  results.  As  it  now'  is,  the 
nation,  as  such,  has  no  festival  either  religious  or  social,  but  gropes  in  the  ashes  of 
the  past  for  some  stray  ember  of  a half-forgotten  “ mele,”  which  it  chauuts  with  fear  , 
and  trembling,  lest  its  sound  may  provoke  the  ban  of  the  preacher  or  the  rebuke  of 
religious  martinets. 

“ Such  were  our  reflections  on  seeing  the  bonfire  on  Monday  last,  and  wc  turned 
away  in  sadness.’’ 


8 


ful,  in  nature  and  art,  to  the  worship  of  the  sanctuary  ; that  it  is  as 
we  seek  to  realize  Him  in  all  the  duly  appointed  channels  of  grace, 
we  may  expect  to  hold  communion  with  the  Father  and  Son  through 
the  Spirit.  By  the  blessing  of  God  on  the  inculcation  of  these  prin- 
ciples and  by  giving  them  practical  effect  in  the  organization  and 
discipline  of  the  Church,  we  may  hope  for  the  elevation  of  the  native 
races  to  a higher  and  purer  ideal  of  their  manhood.  All  who  visit 
the  islands  bear  testimony  to  the  sad  want  of  moral  purity  among 
them,  no  doubt  in  part  due  to  the  licentiousness  of  European  and 
American  sailors  and  others.  In  touching  accents  the  King  lately 
complained  to  his  Legislature,  “ Our  acts  are  vain  unless  we  can 
stay  the  wasting  hand  that  is  destroying  our  people.  I feel  a heavy 
responsibility  in  this  matter” — accordingly  he  has  encouraged  by  all 
the  means  in  his  power  the  institution  of  boarding  schools  for  the 
education  of  native  girls,  taking  them  from  home  at  an  early  age  and 
raising  them  by  the  training  of  the  ladies  to  a higher  appreciation 
of  their  dignity  as  women.  The  Sisters  of  the  Sacred  Heart  have 
opened  such  schools  in  connexion  with  the  Roman  Church,  and  de- 
fective will  be  our  machinery  if  no  similar  provision  is  made  by  us 
for  furthering  the  same  object.  It  is  to  me  a matter  of  thankfulness 
that  there  are  in  our  party  going  out,  those  who,  having  devoted  the 
best  part  of  their  lives  to  labours  of  this  kind,  are  eminently  fitted  to 
organize  and  superintend  such  institutions.  How  deeply  the  King 
feels  the  want  of  this  agency  appeal's  from  his  speech  at  the  last 
opening  of  his  Legislature  : “ I regret  that  there  has  been  little  pro- 
gress in  the  education  and  moral  training  of  females.  This  subject 
ought  to  be  considered  paramount  to  any  other  in  considering  the 
educational  necessities  of  the  people.  I therefore  hope  that  this  Leg- 
islature will  devise  some  means  for  more  fully  carrying  out  my  views 
expressed  in  my  address  upon  this  subject  to  the  last  Legislature, 
and  in  connexion  therewith,  I cannot  forego  the  opportunity,  as  the 
head  of  this  nation,  to  express  my  acknowledgments  and  appreciation 
of  the  services  already  rendered  to  this  cause  either  by  individuals 
or  organizations.” 

As  an  English  Mission,  it  is  hoped,  we  may  render  valuable  aid  to 
the  cause  of  primary  education  in  the  islands.  It  is  in  contemplation 
to  give  a more  industrial  and  practical  character  to  the  system 

pursued  in  the  State  Schools,  and  gradually  to  bring  about  a die- 

* 

placement  of  the  Hawaiian  for  the  English  tongue  throughout  the  na- 


9 


live  population.  Flow  inadequate  the  old  language  is  as  a vehicle 
of  thought  or  moral  training  appears  from  the  fact  that  there  are  no 
words  in  it  whereby  to  express  hope,  gratitude,  or  chastity.  In  the 
address,  before  quoted,  the  King  says,  “ The  importance  of  substi- 
tuting English  for  Hawaiian  schools  I have  already  earnestly  recom-  ' 
mended  ; and  in  again  bringing  the  subject  under  your  attention,  I 
would  touch  upon  a matter  which  I think  of  equal  importance,  and 
that  is  the  raising  the  standard  of  elementary  education  in  the  Com- 
mon Schools.  This  latter  object  may  be  secured  by  the  institution  of 
Normal  Schools,  as  recommended  by  the  President  ; but  combined  yf 
with  the  teaching  of  the  English  as  a general  thing  throughout  the 
kingdom,  it  must  place  the  object  beyond  a peradveuture.” 

The  foreigners  centred  there  for  the  purposes  of  trade  and  agricul- 
ture, chiefly  English  and  Americans,  containing  many  professedly 
members  of  our  Reformed  Church  or  others  who  are  willing  to  unite 
with  her,  though  in  the  absence  of  any  other  alternative  they  have 
chosen,  it  may  be,  one  or  other  of  the  extreme  forms  at  present  in 
the  islands,  will  have  to  be  tended  and  fed  with  Christ’s  holy  Word 
and  Sacraments.  Especial  attention  must  be  paid  to  the  spiritual 
wants  of  the  sailors,  who,  during  their  stay  in  the  ports  visited,  so 
often  run  into  evil,  through  want  of  any  interest  being  taken  by 
those  around  them  in  their  temporal  or  spiritual  welfare. 

Lastly,  among  the  heathen  islands  we  may  operate  from  Honolulu 
as  a base.  There  is  no  reason  why  we  should  not  have  a college, 
where  the  Hawaiians  may  be  trained  to  go  out  as  missionaries  to 
Micronesia,  including  the  Caroline  and  other  groups  towards  Japan, 
as  well  as  to  Southern  Polynesia.  Their  language,  physical  tempera- 
ment, and  general  similarity  of  race,  would  well  qualify  them  for  this 
work  ; and  that  they  are  capable  of  it  appears  from  the  fact  that  the 
Congregationalists  have  sent  out  already  six  natives  as  missionaries 
into  Micronesia.* 

Such,  Brethren,  are  the  chief  outlines  of  the  task  we  are  undertak- 
ing. I cannot  hide  the  fact  that  its  accomplishment  seems  beset 
with  difficulties  and  perils.  If  the  ground  were  wholly  unoccupied, 
as  it  was  when  we  were  first  invited  to  take  possession  of  it  in 
Christ’s  name,  the  case  would  be  very  different  from  what  it  actually  ( 
is.  It  is  hoped  that  the  introduction  of  that  pure  and  complete  de- 

* See  the  religious  periodical  of  the  Congregationalists,  published  at  Honolulu  in 
1860,  called  “ The  Friend.’’ 

2 


10 


I 

1 


I' 


V 


velopement  of  Divine  truth  it  is  our  happiness  as  English  Churchmen 
to  enjoy,  concentrating  in  its  worship  and  teaching  all  that  is  good, 
and  beautiful,  and  true,  in  the  two  extremes,  without  running  into 
the  excesses  of  either,  may  dispel  some  of  those,  doubts,  which  sys- 
tems, so  antagonistic  as  those  now  at  work  there,  must  have  created 
in  their  minds.  It  may  be  so  ; but  it  may  produce  the  contrary  ef- 
fect. And  a vast  responsibility  devolves  on  those  to  whom  is  en- 
trusted the  direction  of  this  sacred  enterprise,  to  see  that  the  former, 
and  not  the  latter,  be  the  result  of  their  efforts.  Nothing  would 
shake  all  religious  belief  in  the  islands  more  effectually  than  for  ns 
to  assume  an  attitude  of  hostility  to  those  forms  of  Christianity  with 
which  they  are  now  familiar.  We  must  show  the  people  how  beneath 
the  defects  and  corruptions  of  this  or  that  communion  there  lies  a 
substratum  of  truth  in  the  admission  of  the  great  historic  facts  of  the 
Creeds,  which  may  well  increase  their  faith  in  those  facts,  and  lead 
to  greater  charity  and  forbearance  in  our  treatment  of  those  Articles 
of  the  Faith  which  are  called  in  question.  We  are  to  speak  the  truth, 
but  it  must  be  in  love  ; and  we  are  to  give  all  who  have  been  hither- 
to labouring  with  so  much  devotion  and  earnestness  in  their  Master’s 
cause,  while  we  have  been  looking  on  with  cold  indifference,  the  credit 
they  deserve.  Wc  must  make  it  clear  we  do  not  go  forth  to  ignore 
or  override  what  has  been  done  by  others. 

And  this  suggests  another  danger,  that  of  seeking  to  proselytize. 
It  is  an  admitted  fact  that  a large  number  of  the  people  are  in  active 
communion  with  none  of  the  existing  bodies,  and  among  them  we 
must  seek  to  labour,  not  doubting  that,  as  wc  thus  exhibit  and  carry 
to  them  the  Church’s  message  in  all  fidelity,  and  zeal,  and  love,  she 
will  attract  many  others,  whom  she  would  effectually  repel  were  she 
to  assume  a posture  of  unfriendliness  or  aggression.  If  we  keep  be- 
fore our  eyes  the  fact,  that  the  great  object  of  the  mission  is  the 
salvation  of  the  souls  and  bodies  of  those  among  whom  we  are  going 
to  labour,  and  not  the  numbers  we  can  count  as  members  of  our  com- 
munion, we  may  hope,  by  God’s  blessing,  to  escape  this  danger.  / 

In  the  complex  character  of  the  population,  we  may  see  another 
ground  for  the  exercise  of  prudence  and  caution.  An  adaptation  of 
the  formularies  and  system  of  the  Church  to  the  feelings  and  require- 
ments of  any  one  element  may  prove  very  unsuitable  and  mischiev- 
ous in  the  instance  of  another. 

In  the  national  jealousies,  too,  which  usually  prevail  in  a centre  of 


11 


resort  such  as  this, — one  owing’  its  independence  to  the  forbearance 
and  protection  of  its  more  powerful  neighbours, — we  have  reason  for 
care  and  circumspection. 

But  if  the  difliculties  to  be  apprehended  are  great,  so  too  are  our 
encouragements.  “Not  by  power  or  might,  but  my  Spirit,  saith  our 
God.”  And  to  the  end  of  time  the  promise  given  by  our  Lord  to  his 
Apostles  shall  be  true  in  the  instance  of  their  successors,  “ Lo,  I am 
with  you  alway,  even  unto  the  end  of  the  world.”  There  are  also 
considerations  subordinate  to  this.  ^ The  interest  felt  by  the  present 
very  intelligent,  high-principled,  and  even  accomplished  King  in  the 
realization  of  an  English  episcopate,  the  clinging  on  the  part  of  the 
islanders  from  the  first  to  England  as  the  country  to  supply  them 
with  a religion  they,  could  trust,  the  co-operation  of  the  English  and 
many  of  the  American  residents  in  preparing  for  the  reception  of  the 
mission,*  the  baptism  of  the  Prince  of  Hawaii,  our  own  beloved 
Queen  standing,  by  proxy,  as  the  sponsor,  with  which  ceremony  the 
Church  will,  so  to  speak,  be  inaugurated — these  are  all  hopeful  signs. 
When,  too,  I consider  the  warm  sympathy  and  support  extended  to 
the  Mission  by  my  countrymen  and  fellow-churchmen  during  the 
months  that  have  elapsed  since  my  consecration, — shown  by  their 
liberal  contributions  no  less  than  in  the  hearty  prayers  they  have 
ever  been  ready  to  offer  for  its  success, — there  is  indeed  reason  “ to 
be  of  good  cheer  and  take  courage.”  For  those  loving  tokens  of  in- 
terest and  sympathy  how  can  I ever  be  grateful  enough  ? 

And  now,  on  the  eve  of  departure  with  those  brethren  who  have 
thrown  in  their  lot  with  me,  and  are  devoting  themselves  to  this 
arduous  enterprise,  I have  to  ask  you,  on  their  behalf  as  well  as  my 
own,  a continuance  of  your  Christian  sympathy  and  your  prayers. 
You  will  follow  with  interest  and,  when  such  help  may  be  needed, 
further  with  your  alms  the  work  of  building  up  the  wralls  of  our  Zion, 
as  it  progresses,  in  these  central  isles  of  the  Pacific.  You  will  re- 
member us  in  your  private  devotions,  your  litanies  and  common 
prayers,  among  those  that  travel  by  land  or  by  water,  that  they  who 
go  forth  to  “sow  the  seed  of  eternal  life  beside  all  waters”  may  be 
safe  in  the  Everlasting-  Arms  ; but  especially  that  they  may  be  en- 

* The  “ Polynesian”  of  April  19th  last  describes  a meeting  which  took  place  for 
this  object  in  the  Court  House,  the  King  taking  a part  in  th^roceedings.  A com- 
mittee was  formed  to  obtain  donations  for  the  Cathedral  and  Mission  Funds,  and 
nearly  £1,000  was  promised  to  the  former  object. 


12 


dued  with  “ the  Spirit  of  power,  of  love,  and  of  a sound  mind,”  that 
the  great  work,  they  are  engaged  in,  may  not  be  marred  by  human 
corruption  or  by  the  infirmity  of  those  to  whom  it  is  committed,  that 
many  an  islander  of  the  Pacific,  now  waiting  for  Christ’s  law  in  grate- 
ful adoration  for  benefits  received  from  this  mission  of  our  Church, 
may  hereafter  rise  up  and  call  Her  Blessed. 


AN 


INAUGURAL  SERMON, 

PREACHED  IN  THE  TEMPORARY 


CATHEDRAL  OF  HONOLULU, 


OCTOBER  18,  1 862, 


BY  THE  RIGHT  REV.  THE 


BISHOP  OF  THE  DIOCESE. 


HONOLULU : 

PRINTED  AT  THE  POLYNESIAN  OFFICE. 
1863. 


/ 


\ 


AN 

INAUGURAL  SERMON. 

Ac.,  Ac. 


John  xxi.  Part  of  17  v. 

“ Feed  my  sheep.” 

This  striking  conversation  of  the  Apostle  Peter  with  the  Saviour 
has  a manifest  bearing  on  the  subject  I have  this  (lay  to  bring  under 
your  notice.  For  while  it  sets  forth  in  the  strongest  light  those  two 
aspects  of  the  Christian  character — the  spirit  of  love  and  the  spirit 
of  self  sacrifice — it  singles  out  as  the  highest  form  of  their  expres- 
sion the  work  of  diffusing  the  Gospel  among  our  fellow  men  : “ Feed 
my  sheep.” 

There  is  a variation  in  the  form  of  the  thrice  repeated  ques- 
tion, “ Lovest  thou  me,”  which  we  cannot  possibly  ascribe  to  ac- 
cident, and  which  if  we  would  draw  out  the  whole  meaning  of  the 
passage  must  not  be  passed  over. 

The  first  two  questions  have  for  the  word  “lovest”  one  used 
throughout  the  New  Testament  to  express  that  reverential  love, 
which  fixes  itself  on  high  graces  of  character,  whether  in  God  or 
man.  It  is  set  forth  in  numerous  passages  as  the  grand  mark  of 
God's  true  children  and  the  crown  of  every  virtue.  For  instance,  in 
that  beautiful  description  of  charity  given  by  St.  Paul  in  I.  Cor.  xii. 
Ch.  Whereas  the  third  “ Lovest  thou”  denotes  less  of  a reasoning 
and  more  of  an  impulsive  personal  affection.  Now  to  the  ears  of  the 


16 


penitent  Apostle  the  question,  as  first  put,  sounds  too  cold,  not  per- 
mitting him  to  approach  the  Saviour  so  near  as  he  fain  would  ; he 
therefore  substituted  in  his  answer  the  term  expressing  a more  inti- 
mate, personal  affection,  and  in  this  sense  replies,  “ I love  thee.” 
The  second  time  the  question  is  proposed  in  the  same  cautious  terms 
as  at  the  first,  and  Peter  again  replaces  the  colder  by  the  stronger 
word.  The  third  time,  however,  he  is  successful,  for  Jesus  does  then 
use  the  term  which  Peter  longed  to  hear  as  alone  expressing  all  that 
was  in  his  heart  and,  he  exclaims,  “ Lord,  thou  knowest  all  things  ] 
Thou  knowest  that  I love  Thee.” 

I think,  brethren,  there  is  a great  lesson  in  all  this  on  which  we 
should  do  well  to  ponder.  Strong  feelings,  impassioned  language  in 
our  personal  devotions  to  Christ  ought  not  to  be  the  first  things  aim- 
ed at.  They  may  coexist  and  in  ardent  natures  often  do  with  a state 
of  conduct  in  relation  to  our  fellow  men,  anything  but  pleasing  to 
God.  Hence  the  many  grievous  scandals  even  in  those  professing 
an  inward  experience  of  a very  high  character.  They  begin  at  the 
wrong  end.  The  love  of  God  if  it  be  genuine  scriptural  love  must  be 
founded  on  a love  of  his  character  as  manifested  in  his  Son,  a love 
which  will  lead  the  subject  of  it  himself  to  become  a pure  and  char- 
itable, a just  and  truth  loving  man.  Nothing  is  worthy  the  name 
which  does  not  shape  itself  into  obedience,  for  “ he  that  hath  my 
commandments  and  keepetli  them  he  it  is  that  loveth  me.”  When 
we  have  realised  this  ideal  of  Christian  charity,  leavening  our  daily 
lives,  making  us  ever  purer,  truer,  gentler  beings,  our  love  will,  no 
doubt,  more  and  more  kindle  into  a flame.  As  our  eyes  are  opened 
to  discern  the  “ King  in  his  beauty,”  as  we  ourselves  partake  more 
and  more  of  the  mind  of  Christ,  the  stronger,  the  more  intimate  will 
be  the  love  which  unites  us  to  him,  till  at  last  “ neither  length,  nor 
breadth,  nor  height,  nor  any  other  creature,  shall  be  able  to  separate 
us  from  the  love  of  God,  which  is  in  Christ  Jesus  our  Lord.” 

Let  us  now  proceed  to  the  charge  imposed  on  St.  Peter  by  the  Lord 
as  the  test  of  his  love.  We  cannot  doubt  it  was  given  to  him 
specially  to  show  that  he  had  not  forfeited  the  apostolic  office  by  the 
denial  of  his  Saviour.  There  is  nothing  to  justify  the  notion  of  some 
exclusive  prerogative  accorded  to  him  alone.  On  the  Saviour’s  first 
appearance  after  His  Resurrection  to  the  assembled  eleven,  He  im- 
parted to  them  in  the  same  form  and  words,  the  commission  he  had 
before  given  St.  Peter  alone  : “ Whosoever  sins  ye  remit,  they  are 


IT 


remitted,”  etc.  And  even  if  it  was  not  so  no  links  can  be  traced  by 
which  to  connect  such  supremacy  with  Rome.  For  there  is  no  evi- 
dence lie  was  ever  there  at  all,  until  the  visit  which  ended  in  his 
martyrdom,  when  Eusebius  states  that  he  and  St.  Paul  appointed 
Linus  to  be  the  first  Bishop  of  that  city.  He  is  called  “ the  Apostle 
of  the  Circumcision,”  while  Rome  was  the  head  of  the  Gentile  world. 
If  his  presiding  over  any  church  had  involved  the  clothing  of  that 
church  with  any  such  primacy  over  other  churches,  it  would  surely 
have  been  rather  that  of  Antioch,  where  from  Scripture  and  other 
testimony  we  know  for  certain  he  lived  and  preached  some  years.  It 
is  plain  the  other  Apostles  interpreted  this  injunction  given  to  their 
penitent  brother  as  equally  binding  on  tlremselves,  while  its  fulfill- 
ment was  to  be  the  result  of  a power  working  mightily  within  them 
— I mean  the  love  of  Christ.  And  so  the  event  proved.  Strong  in 
the  strength  which  he  had  imparted,  now  their  highest  ambition  was 
to  spend  and  be  spent  for  their  Saviour.  From  India  to  the  isles  of 
the  then  distant  west,  even  our  own  then  barbarous  isle  of  Britain, 
they  made  known  the  Gospel  of  His  grace.  Now  a cold,  calculating 
policy  would  never  have  achieved  complete  and  rapid  results  like 
these.  Without  the  fire  of  Divine  love  burning  in  their  souls  with 
an  intensity  far  beyond  our  poor  imaginings,  their  message  would 
have  been  but  as  “the  sounding  brass,  as  the  tinkling  cymbal.” 
The  heralds  of  God’s  perfect  charity,  they  were  living  types  them- 
selves of  that  self  sacrifice  which  is  at  once  its  essence  and  its  law. 
But  in  the  commission  thus  given  to  St.  Peter  and  in  him  to  the  other 
Apostles,  there  are  two  aspects  of  the  pastoral  office  presented  to 
our  view.  The  first  time  it  is  “ Feed  my  lambs,”  the  second  “ Tend 
or  govern  my  sheep  the  third  time  it  is  again  “ Feed” — and  that 
too  in  the  instance  of  the  sheep,  the  mature  members  of  Christ’s  flock. 
As  if  to  show  whatever  Godly  discipline  and  ecclesiastical  regimen 
may  be  added  thereto,  the  feeding  of  them  with  God’s  Holy  Word 
and  Sacraments  is  the  gTand  object,  the  beginning  and  the  end  of 
the  Apostolic  ministry. 

Let  us  bless  God  that  while  in  that  church,  with  which  those 
here  present  are  connected  or  may  be  supposed  most  warmly  to 
sympathize,  we  have  an  organisation  for  the  shepherding  of  her 
members  truly  scriptural,  yea,  even  to  minute  detail  ; she  gives  at 
the  same  time  the  chief  place  to  the  setting  forth  of  that  truth  “ which 
is  able  to  make  us  wise  unto  salvation  through  faith  in  Christ  Jesus.” 
3 


18 


An  offshoot  of  that  Church  planted  in  Britain,  most  probably  by 
St.  Paul,  strengthened  by  the  arrival  of  Augustine  and  the  Scotch 
missionaries  from  Iona,  adorned  by  saints  and  theologians,  purified 
at  the  Reformation,  a church  which  has  over-shadowed  with  her  good- 
ly branches  not  only  that  land  but  its  vast  colonies  and  dependen- 
cies, as  well  as  the  United  States,  which  in  the  last  century  received 
their  Episcopal  succession  from  the  See  of  Canterbury — this  church 
we  now  bring  to  plant  among  you 

Would  that  we  had  done  this  eighty  years  ago  when  first  invited 
to  come  here  by  Captain  Vancouver  in  1194,  at  the  instance  of  your 
great  chieftain  Kamehameha  I.  The  ground  was  then  wholly  unoc- 
cupied. Thousands  might  have  been  rescued  during  the  years  of 
neglect  which  elapsed  afterwards — before  Christianity  was  introduc- 
ed— from  misery,  vice  and  premature  decay.  I cannot  defend  my 
fellow  Christians  at  home  for  neglecting  the  touching  appeal  which 
then  reached  us,  “ Come  over  and  help  us.”  It  was  a time  of  sad, 
spiritual  deadness  and  unbelief  in  the  Church,  and  the  “ love  of  many 
had  waxed  cold” — it  was  a time,  too,  when  men’s  minds  were  taken 
up  with  the  great  events  then  transpiring  on  the  continent  of  Europe 
Of  the  past,  I dare  not  speak.  Enough  is  it  for  us  that  the  cry  for 
help  which  then  was  passed  by  unheeded,  again  reached  our  shores, 
and  this  time  was  not  heard  in  vain.  England’s  people,  with  the 
consent  of  England’s  Queen,  have  at  last  sent  you  a Bishop  and 
| Clergy  to  give  you  in  all  its  completeness  the  Church  your  own 
Kings  have  longed  to  have  during  seventy  years  or  more.  They 
have  sent,  too,  such  material  help  as  may  be  required  to  sustain  and 
strengthen  it  until  it  shall  “ take  I’oot  and  fill  the  land.” 

And  we  come  in  all  love  and  good  will  to  those  who  have  been 
labouring  here  before  us.  However  much  we  may  conscientiously 
differ  from  them,  we  desire  not  to  ignore  the  work  which  they  have 
done  to  the  best  of  their  ability,  nor  withhold  from  them  the  credit 
they  deserve.  In  turn  we  claim  the  same  consideration  and  forbear- 
ance. There  is  the  more  need  to  ask  this  because  in  many  important 
points  our  Church  differs  from  the  sects  professing  Protestant  Chris- 
tianity no  less  than  from  the  Roman  Church.  And  consequently 
there  will  be  parts  in  her  worship  and  teaching,  which  will  seem 
strange  to  those  who  are  only  familiar  with  the  former.  At  the  Refor- 
mation she  avoided  the  two  extremes  of  a slavish  adhesion  to  the  exist- 
ing order  on, the  ono  hand,  and  of  irreverence  for  Catholic  antiquity 


19 


and  practice  on  the  other.  Accordingly  in  her  preface  to  the  Book 
of  Common  Prayer  it  is  expressly  stated  that  its  compilers  sought  to 
be  guided  by  Holy  Scripture  as  “interpreted  by  the  ancient  Fathers ,” 
implying  by  that  term  those  chiefly  of  the  first  five  centuries — the 
purest  ages  of  the  church.  The  Liturgy  was  not  composed  for  the 
first  time  at  the  Reformation.  It  contains  the  ancient  Collects,  Lita- 
nies, Hymns  and  Communion  Office  which  were  in  the  Roman  Breviary 
and  Missal,  translated  into  the  vernacular  and  cleansed  of  the  errors 
which  had  crept  into  them  during  the  middle  ages.  Yes  ! we  utter 
the  same  venerable  forms  wherein  Christians  nave  breathed  their  as- 
pirations to  the  Throne  of  Grace — probably  since  the  times  of  the 
Apostles,  certainly  during  fourteen  centuries.  She  holds  that  the 
Sacraments  are  not  bare  symbols  and  figures  of  spiritual  truths,  but 
that  they  “ are  outward  and  visible  signs  of  inward  and  spiritual 
grace,”  by  and  in  them  “given  to  us,”  when  administered  by  the 
hands  of  Christ’s  duly  appointed  ministers.  She  teaches  parents  to 
bring  their  infants  to  be  admitted  into  the  Christian  covenant  by 
Holy  Baptism,  wherein  they  are  declared  to  be  “made  members  of 
Christ,  children  of  God  and  inheritors  of  the  Kingdom  of  Heaven.” 
But  they  are  reminded  that  all  this  will  be  of  no  avail  unless  they  are 
endeavouring  to  fulfill  their  parts  of  the  covenant  by  renouncing  the 
world,  the  flesh  and  the  Devil,  believing  the  articles  of  the  Christian 
Faith  and  endeavouring  to  do  their  duty  in  that  state  of  life  to  which 
they  have  been  called.  On  arriving  at  years  of  discretion  the  bap- 
tized are  invited  to  the  Holy  Rite  of  Confirmation,  that  they  may  not 
only  “ratify  and  confirm  their  Christian  obligations,”  but  be  strength- 
ened by  a new  gift  of  the  Holy  Spirit  imparted  to  them  “ by  the  im- 
position of  hands.”  This  rite  is  designed  to  serve  as  an  initiation  in- 
to full  communion  with  the  Church — wThen  the  devout  recipient  may 
approach  the  Blessed  Sacrament  of  Christ’s  Body  and  Blood,  which  in 
the  language  of  the  Catechism  “ are  verily  and  indeed  taken  and  re- 
ceived by  the  faithful  in  the  Lord’s  Supper.”  She  deems  this  the 
highest  act  of  Christian  worship  and  as  an  intimation  that  she 
would  have  it  accompanied  with  externals  to  impress  the  seuses 
as  well  as  the  heart — she  directs  in  her  24th  Canon  that  it  be  cele- 
brated in  every  Cathedral  with  special  vestments  to  be  worn  by  the 
clergy. 

Through  all  the  ever  varying  scenes  of  this  life — in  trouble  and  in 
joy  she  follows  her  children  with  her  heavenly  consolations,  her 


Vv/ 


v/ 


20 


■ prayers  and  benedictions,  until  that  body  which  in  this  life  she  had 
taught  them  to  regard  as  “ the  Temple  of  the  Holy  Ghost”  is  com- 
mitted to  the  earth  in  hope  of  the  resurrection  to  life  eternal. 

In  all  this  her  principle  is  “do  not  wait  till  you  are  converted  by 
some  sudden,  irresistible  impulse,  but  regard  yourself  as  already  by 
i ( baptism  grafted  into  Christ’s  Church  and  bound  to  crucify  daily  the 
old  man,  with  his  evil  deeds,  and  able  to  do  so  by  the  strength  already 
imparted  to  you  from  above.  It  is  this  gradual  formation  of  Chris- 

Itian  character  at  which  she  aims — a process  going  on  from  Baptism 
; till  Death.  It  enters  into  all  her  teaching  and  formularies.  So  with 
regard  to  Church  discipline.  All  whose  consciences  are  burdened 
with  sin  she  requests  in  her  exhortation  to  the  Communion  to  come 
to  the  minister  and  open  their  grief,  that  they  may  “ receive  the  bene- 
1 fit  of  absolution  together  with  ghostly  counsel  and  advice.” 

Regarding  her  children  as  having  bodies  as  well  as  souls,  senses 
to  be  exercised  for  good  or  evil,  she  sanctions  the  consecration  of  all 
that  is  beautiful  in  nature  and  art  to  the  service  of  the  sanctuary. 
Her  old  Cathedral  worship  has  consequently  been  retained  in  all  its 
splendour.  The  peal  of  the  organ  as  it  rebounds  along  the  vaulted 
roof,  the  stained  glass  window,  the  painted  altar  piece,  the  furniture 
for  the  Holy  Table,  these  have  received  her  high  approval  and  are 
found  not  only  in  her  Cathedrals  but  many  of  her  other  churches. 
Except  as  accessories  and  aids  to  devotion,  or  as  offerings  of  love  to 
Christ — the  ointment  poured  out — we  value  them  not.  If  we  are  to 
address  our  worship  to  them,  if  they  shut  out  Christ  from  our  eyes, 
away  with  them  ! I am  persuaded  there  are  6orae  natures  to  whom 
/ a ritual  is  more  acceptable,  more  necessary  than  to  others  ; and  such 
'■  I believe  to  be  the  case  with  the  natives  of  these  islands.  Let  then 
such  of  you  as  lean  to  a more  purely  subjective  and  mental  worship 
remember  this,  and  be  willing  to  sacrifice  something  of  their  own 
individual  preferences  for  the  good  of  the  whole  body. 

Regard  in  this  light  our  humble  attempts  to  adorn  God’s  service 
and  temple.  We  have  as  yet  only  a very  poor  building.  But  it  is 
a Cathedral,  for  it  is  the  seat  of  a Bishop  of  Christ’s  Holy  Catholic 
Church. 

Once  more.  We  do  not  regard  religion  as  a system  of  frames  and 
feelings  merely,  separate  from  common  life.  It  is  to  leaven  and  hal- 
low all  the  instincts  of  our  nature,  not  to  override  and  crush  them. 
It  is  therefore  not  a business  of  one  day  in  seven — Sunday — often 


f called,  I think  most  falsely  and  mischievously  the  Sabbath,  for  the 
Church  provides  “ an  order  of  prayer  to  be  said  daily  throughout  the 
■ year.”  She  wishes  the  daily  sacrifice  to  be  offered.  And  she  has 
appointed  the  observance  of  fast  and  festival  each  in  its  due  course. 
On  her  Christmas,  her  Easter,  her  Ascension  Tide,  she  would  have 
all  rejoice  not  only  in  the  temple  but  in  innocent  mirth  and  healthful 
recreation.  He  who  was  present  at  the  marriage  of  Cana  in  Galilee 
and  turned  the  water  into  wine  designs  to  unite  with  us — if  we  drive 
him  not  away  by  impurity  and  sin — in  our  social  and  festal  gather- 
ings, no  less  than  in  our  seasons  of  sorrow  and  bereavement,  Surely 
Christianity  is  not  all  sourness,  all  taboo  ! God  would  have  us  use 
thankfully  and  in  moderation  all  the  gifts  He  has  given  us,  not  ab- 
stain from  them  altogether.  This  is  true  self  restraint,  this  real  tem- 
perance. 

Such  are  some  of  the  leading  features  in  that  Church  system  we 
come  to  establish  among  the  people  of  these  islands.  We  come  not 
unasked,  and  we  come  seconded  by  the  prayers  and  alms  of  Christ’s 
faithful  people  in  the  country  we  have  left.  Oh  ! pray  that  though 
we  are  “sowing  in  tears” — in  the  first  outburst  of  a nation’s  grief  for 
the  loss  of  the  princely  boy  so  untimely  removed  to  the  bright  world 
above — we  may  yet  “reap  in  joy,”  that  they  who  go  about  “ weeping 
and  bearing  good  seed,”  may  “ come  again  with  joy  bringing  the" 
sheaves  with  them.” 


